"But I think if he looks back on this season, he will see how difficult it has been. It has been a tough old season, I am not going to deny that. But I don’t think there is a need to apologise to the fans.

"If you speak to the fans, I don’t think they would want an apology. The minority might, the majority won’t.

“What they have seen this year is that they have a team who really want to play for this club and really want to do well for this club and I am sure, given time with this squad, and hopefully with a few new additions that the gaffer will be sorting out this summer, you will see a different us next season.”

And he pointed to the manner of the 2-0 win over Tottenham eight days ago as proof that West Ham are not content to play percentage football geared just for survival.

(Image: Action Images)

He said: “Anyone who was here for that game cannot say we are a long-ball team.”

Nolan then made an impassioned defence of manager Sam Allardyce, whose position has been open to question in recent weeks – including a banner calling for his dismissal during the 1-0 defeat at West Brom.

“The talk about Sam shocked a lot of the boys,” said Nolan, who played for Allardyce at Bolton. “All I would say is that the Gaffer has got us all behind him. From day one, when he walked in here, he has proved to everyone what he can do.

“This year we have been blighted by injuries. I don’t think any other team in the bottom 10 would have been able to stay in the Premier League if they had the injuries we had.”

Allardyce will have an end-of-season de-brief later this week, and Nolan said: “I would tell the chairman you have to stick with him because you have to look at what he built at Bolton. He took them from the Championship into Europe within five years.

“It is a sad occasion when we are talking about him getting sacked when you look at the magnificent job he has done for three seasons.”